"Clay's Quilt" sings, with a voice as mighty and true as that of the fiery honky-tonk singer, Evangeline, and as sweet and haunting as the music of the passionate and mysterious fiddler, Alma, who grace its pages. I realize that "quilt" is the defining metaphor here, but for me this book was like music - a richly textured, multi-faceted, and infinitely satisfying hymn to life at its utmost. This is an impressive first novel. The writer has created people that live and breathe, and a place so real that I wanted to get out a map of Eastern Kentucky and look it up. Clay Sizemore has only vague memories of the tragic event that brought him to his mother's sister's house on a freezing night over twenty years ago. His Aunt Easter and others in his mother's family have given him a warm, loving upbringing and he appreciates it but he's determined to find some answers about his mother and father. His concentration on the past, though, doesn't prevent him from living wholeheartedly in the present. Along with his family and friends, he loves and worships and fusses and fights with great enthusiasm. These people invest their all in life House's descriptions of the physical world are heart-stoppingly beautiful. His writing is lyrical, but not without bite. I can find very little wrong with this book's construction and pace. It starts with a mystery and builds toward resolution in an altogether satisfying way. I found it refreshing that House confines the preaching and explaining which some young writers can't seem to resist to the dialogue of his coming of age characters, where it's appropriate. Two small things about the book bothered me - the extensive use of dialect, which may be essential, but which I found distracting, and some misspelled words. One of the best things I can think of to say about any book is that it stays with you. This one does. I finished it days ago and I still think about Clay and Alma, and Dreama and Gabe and Anneth and Easter. And about Marguerite and Cake and Darry and Denzel and Evangeline and the others. Did I mention what wonderful names the people in Black Banks have? In the book, it is said of Clay's mother, Anneth, that "A person so full of life couldn't just up and die..." This book is full of life. I wish it wouldn't just up and end.

Vividly poetic in its description of Appalachian natural resources, heartwarming and honest in its portrayal of people linked by their love for their environs and family, Clay's Quilt is in the top three on my "re-read often" list. In this debut novel, Silas House deftly stitches a search for understanding and love with picturesque Appalachia.

Clay Sizemore is a character any reader will quickly befriend, not only because of the tragedy of losing his mother, but because Clay is a loveable young man. House's prose places the reader, like a close friend, beside Clay. Whether Clay is at work in the coal mine, walking the mountainside, or partying at the local honky-tonk, we are there with him, feeling the grit of coal dust in our eyes, smelling the air on Free Mountain, or throwing down a whiskey with a beer chaser on a Saturday night.

There is something to be said when a reader can feel for a story's rogues. Even the villains and the socially challenged characters in Clay's Quilt are people with whom a reader will identify. House takes us into their hearts, to the places that hurt, to those hidden areas where malice and evil ferment, torment and eventually explode with terrible consequences.

Life, human and natural, pulsates through the veins of this story. Long after its first reading, "Clay's Quilt" will warm the reader.

Clay's Quilt is a powerful novel lovingly and masterfully pieced from the lives of the residents of Free Creek, Kentucky. Whether working, playing, laughing, praying, driving, crying, singing, fighting, dancing, hollering, or loving, these people do it passionately and with every fiber of their beings; these people LIVE. As a result, the novel itself lives and breathes and makes a joyful noise through the voices of its people as well as through their music. House's prose is lyrical yet unsentimental, fiercely grounded in real, concrete, sensuous and intimate details of everyday life. As the novel follows Clay Sizemore's struggle to find his place in the world and to make peace with a tragic past, we witness his tender and ferocious love for family and friends, his awe and gratitude at finally finding true love with a fiddle player named Alma, and his determination to make a home and a life for himself and his new family. House's voice is true and Clay's Quilt is a book both joyous and haunting, a story whose characters stayed with me long after I finished reading.

If you're looking for a breezy romantic adventure, set in late-Victorian era Maine, search no further. Van Reid's debut is written in a dead-on decorous prose, mimicking the manners of the era, and following the pacing of the traditional serialized novel. Full of digressive, yet entertaining, stories, and borrowing liberally from classic adventure tales, this makes good hammock or porch reading if you're into this type of thing. The first storyline follows a pretty young woman (Cordelia of the title) and her family, as they receive a mysterious bequest from her dead uncle and investigate it while she is courted by an dashing young man. The second storyline concerns a the activities bumbling trio of gentlemen who start a club, and the witty and portly fellow they elect as the club's chair. Needless to say, the storylines overlap and dovetail throughout, though Cordelia's storyline drives the action. It all works rather well, although the ending felt a bit abrupt and unsatisfying to me. On the whole Reid sets the tone perfectly, and this is ideal book for anyone planning a visit to Maine.

Van Reid has written an homage to turn-of-the-century Victorian novels with Cordelia Underwood, or the Marvellous Beginnings of the Moosepath League and its delightful sequels. It's a romance, a treasure hunt, a mystery, quirkily wriggling between genre descriptions...Wonderfully evocative of the novels of the period, but with a modern humor and sensibility. Wonderful descriptions of the small towns of Maine in 1898 as well. Having visited Maine for years, I can testify that it's a true picture of the scents and sights and sounds. Very well done, and I'm eager for the next book in the series to be published.

Usually when authors are characterized as writing in "Dickensian Style" it means they are writing about an enormous cast of characters inhabiting the squalid streets of Victorian London. However, Dickens also had a lighter side, with The Pickwick Papers being his most lighthearted comedy. Van Reid has taken much of the flavor of The Pickwick Papers and moved it to Victorian Maine. Instead of Mr. Pickwick and his man-servant Sam Weller, we now have Mr. Walton and his servant Sundry Moss. Instead of the Pickwick Club, we have the Moosepath League. There is an adventurous journey, a little romance, and in the end the bad guys get their due.

What makes this novel stand out so much from other recent novels is how very likable Van Reid makes his characters. Whether clever or addle-pated, young or old, heroic or not-so-heroic, all the characters are jovial and fun to spend time with. They are polite, tell great stories, and smile a lot. I don't often give the highest rating, but I had such a good time visiting these people that they deserve no less than 5 stars.

When Sharon McCone's father dies, he leaves a request that Sharon be the one to go through his papers. When she does, she finds some shocking information about her past which plunges her into anger and disbelief and causes her to search for answers to questions she didn't know she needed to ask. Sharon has always known that she is part Shoshone Indian and her investigation brings her face to face with her Native American relatives. Greed, prejudice and corruption are all uncovered as Sharon seeks out her identity. Her lover Hy is at her side, as always, but the McCones oppose her quest. This book marks an interesting twist in the long-running Sharon McCone series, but watching Sharon try to solve her own mystery is not as intriguing as watching her solve other people's. Still, this is an important book for Marcia Muller fans.

Being a mystery writer whose first book is in its initial release, I have been fascinated by Marcia Muller's work and her evolving Sharon McCone character since I first began reading this series nearly two decades ago. Over the course of nearly two dozen books, Muller has allowed Sharon McCone to grow up and mature from a quasi-counter-culture twentysomething woman working as a PI for a nonprofit San Francisco legal clinic into the fortysomething owner of her own private investigation agency. Muller has pulled off this transformation more convincingly than I have seen in the works of any other mystery author.

In LISTEN TO THE SILENCE, Muller adds fresh twists to McCone's background. Upon the death of her father, McCone discovers why she is the only child in her family who appears to be Shoshone. The reason is simple and obvious. She was adopted by the McCones and her birth family's roots rest on a Native American reservation. McCone's discovery of her adoption launches her on one of her most fascinating investigations. I found this book engrossing, and I was once more amazed at how Marcia Muller manages to add new facets to one of the classic characters in contemporary mystery fiction. I recommend this book highly.

This distinguished series has been a favorite of mine for many years, but I found this novel to be the most rewarding to me. In other novels, Sharon McCone's character, wit, and action are stronger . . . but the underlying issues are much less fundamental. Here, she has to look squarely at the question of who she is in the broadest sense. To pull that off after so many novels is quite a feat. I heartily commend and thank Marcia Muller for writing this book.

I can't tell you very much about the plot without giving away things that will spoil the story for you. So I apologize for not giving you as much detail as I usually do.

Let me talk instead about how the plot is organized. Sharon McCone is off on a search for identity where one clue connects to another. So there is the usual mystery-unraveling aspect to the plot. The complications are above average in their extent, and provide satisfying revelations right up to the end.

As you may know from other Sharon McCone novels, Marcia Muller likes to work with mental dialogue as well as spoken dialogue. In this case, the internal dialogue is about listening for what people don't say, when they hesitate, or change the subject. From this interesting technique, you will probably become a better listener. Like most of us, Sharon McCone lets most of this information pass her by the first time she hears it. But upon further reflection, she sees missing elements. And then profitably focuses her attention on those. By this method, most of the plot is unraveled.

But the development of what a family is makes this a remarkable mystery. In this one novel, Marcia Muller looks at intergenerational relations, the implications of adoption and remarriage, male-female relations with and without marriage, and clan relations as well. Few novels have this scope, and I hope you will look for this element and think about it as you read this rewarding novel.

For Sharon McCone fans, this book is going to be very exciting for another reason: The elements in this book create vast potential for developing new and expanded themes in future books in the series.

If you have not read any of the books in the series, however, I suggest that you not start with this one. A lot of its appeal comes in the surprises that you will experience as the plot unfolds. I envy you the chance to start in the beginning and read all of these books in order!

Overcome your complacency about thinking you know what is about to happen in your own life. Use this book to identify a single assumption you are making about your life which, if changed, would refocus everything you do. Then consider whether your assumption is really a good one. Who knows what you will discover?

Enjoy!

The other review I wrote of this book got mangled almost beyond recognition, so I'm going to post a better one.

I only discovered Mary Jo Putney earlier this year, and bought a few of her earlier books to get me started. Since I noticed that The Rake is a sequel to The Diabolical Baron, I read the latter first; found it enjoyable but nothing wildly out of the ordinary. I was thus not expecting too much when I realised that the villain of 'Baron' was the hero of The Rake. But I realised very quickly that I underestimated Putney.

She doesn't try to force anyone to like Reggie; it's clear from the outset that he is a drunk and a gambler, and that he doesn't see anything wrong in sponging off his cousin, the Earl. But we also learn fairly early on that his behaviour has been shaped by circumstances. Put into the *right* circumstances, he begins to mend his ways.

Alys is a wonderful heroine, and her first meeting with Reggie is a terrific read. She knows he wants her - and, of course, her very unorthodox position as his farm manager, dressing in trousers most of the time, won't give him any illusions about her virtue. But she insists that she's not that kind of woman... and gradually, they become friends.

Reggie is an alcoholic, as becomes clear, and Putney pulls no punches as to its effect on his behaviour. Like some of her other books, this one contains harrowing scenes. And yet these are enlivened by flashes of humour; Reggie, when he's sober, is a delightful and witty person.

I just loved this book from start to finish. And now that I've written about it, I want to go and read it again!

Reginald Davenport is an alcoholic. Alys Weston is a gifted businesswoman and estate manager living a life of lies layered on one another like an onion. What an unlikely pairing - but it works! Reginald's cousin opens the door to his transformation by restoring an estate to him which had been unlawfully withheld; however, it is up to Reginald to walk through that door. The book traces Reginald's journey, as Alys becomes a reluctant companion along the path. That the two fall in love is not surprising; what makes it interesting, is that in the end, it is Alys's flaws that threaten to destroy their relationship, and not Reginald's addiction.

Reginald's character is written so well - it's as if MJP was able to get inside the head of an addicted person and those around him who either collaborate with the addiction, or try to neutralize it. This story has credibility and depth, and is one that I'll be recommending to my friends. Excellent job.

You know what they say, "Reformed rakes make the best of husbands." Reggie makes a great rake, but even better is his struggle to reform. The way the author writes this book adds realism and credibility. While most romance books prefer to not broach serious topics like alchoholism (usually they get a bit dark and depressing), Ms. Putney does an excellent job at entwining it with the romance. I liked this book very much.

The heroine isn't bad, but the hero is delightfully complex, and just this side of delectable. The whole book was utterly realistic until the end, which I thought was a bit stretching reality, but that's really the most I can find to complain about. This book was absoloutly wonderful.

I'd recommend this to someone that wants a romance with realistic characters and a good plot. This author's writing is very good.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I JUST FINISHED READING IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. ITS AMAZING HOW JACKIE COLLINS CAN CREATE A WORLD, A WORLD THAT YOU JUST DONT WANT TO LEAVE. THE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK ARE SO REAL THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOUVE KNOWN THEM FOREVER. THIS BOOK IS LIKE A DRUG, YOU WONT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN, I GUARANTEE THAT! I CRIED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND IM A LITTLE DEPRESSED SO IVE GOT TO FIND A NEW JACKIE COLLINS TO READ!!!

This was the best book Jackie Collins ever wrote, and I've read every one of them. I loved Nick and Lauren's star-crossed love story, and the mystery surrounding Cyndra was top-notch. Ooh, it was such a good book. Ooh, it made me go to the store and buy "Power." Reading Jackie Collins is like eating chocolate eclairs. Gooey and fun. Ooh. Ooh,yummy Jackie Collins is the best glitz novel writer there is.

American Star is about the story of two people: Nick Angel, one of the hottest actors in Hollywood; and Lauren Roberts, The Face of the Decade. Their story starts when they are in highschool, growing up in Kansas in a small town called Bosewell. Nick Angelo comes from a broken home and lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Lauren has a home life that seems to be perfect. Yet the two meet and become star crossed lovers. Tragedy breaks them apart, and years later they meet up again. Both had moved on, yet neither of them had forgotten the other.

In between the story of Nick and Lauren, there are other sub plots: Nick's step sister Cyndra and her struggle to become a famous singer; an accidental death; and of course the usual sex and drugs that comes with any Jackie Collins novel.

I enjoyed this book very much. I'd say this is one of Jackie Collins' better novels. It read well, and I liked the characters she portrayed in the book. I wouldnt' mind reading a sequel to this novel.

I've been a huge fan for Fulghum's books. He always have a unique perspective in everything. But this book is different from his previous ones. It's a collection of love stories from many people. Fulghum just put them in this book, re-arrange and add his comment. This is one of the most honest book I ever read. Story of strange love, I would say that if we can call it "love". What does love mean? Does it limit only between boys & girls, friends & friends etc? This book doesn't answer anything at all, but it will make you think about it and finally smile.I'm very surprise with such those wonderful, lovely stories in this books. This is the book you will love. Each story has its own charm and memory. Again, as usual, Fulghum's summary in each section of the book is more than I can say. His view for love with the help of his excellent ability to select spectacular words make it a very wonderful book. Good persent for Valentine's day

This book was a joy to read in fact I keep looking back in read a couple of stories to help me make it through this time apart from my spouse.... This book is a real inspiration to anybody who needs to be cheered up in a time of need or just needs a good laugh... I enjoyed this book more then any other book I have read in a long time...

Robert Fulghum is the type of author that can make your heart smile. He writes about real people and real things. And what is more real than True Love? We've all been there. We know that wonderful / terrible feeling. If you've loved and lost, if you've loved and won . . . you know it is worth it. Reading Mr. Fulghum's True Love is much like sitting in a coffee shop with an old friend and recounting your True Love stories and theirs. It makes you feel wonderful and lucky to be in love . . . or it makes you look forward to falling in love. I fell in love. With this book. Treat yourself. Read it

This is just a terrific book, filled with humor, wisdom, pathos and adventure. The author poignantly describes his childhood descent into blindness, his efforts to ignore it, his initial rebelliousness, and his gradual coming to terms with his handicap. Before long, the reader, like Erik, no longer sees blindness as a handicap, but as one of many hurdles life tosses in our way. It is certainly less of a burden to him than was the sudden, tragic death of his mother, which he movingly addresses and comes to terms with. He finds purpose to his life, he finds love, and he finds friendship and adventure on the mountains that he climbs. Buy this book and give it to any friend who has an inclination toward self-pity, and it may change their life. Read it and be inspired by the resiliency and strength of the human spirit.

This is a must-read for crowds of all types. Touching, humorous, moving, the story of Erik will inspire many. Being blind myself, I can totally relate to situations Erik describes such as the "shaking" vision, wanting to be accepted among peer groups of any age, and the comical remarks that must be made to lighten up a situation. I especially enjoyed the adventures in dating and picking up women. Blind people too want to know what a person looks like and it was great to hear someone else echo the embarressment of mistaking a voice for a "sexy" woman only to find out it's a "girly" man. Those mistakes are made and have to be laughed off. It's just a feature of life, just like blindness is only a feature of a person, NOT THE WHOLE person. I strongly suggest this book to anyone looking for information or coping on blindness. Read it and you'll never be the same.

This is an ease read but surprisingly soul-awakening book for me. There are statements on life lessons strung together like jewels hidden everywhere in this book, from the start to finish, mostly on self-assumed constraints that are common to everyone, sighted or not. I found vicariously the family love, friendship, and community support invigorating. I sensed the humor, strength, commitment, and perseverance Erik W carries with him daily, not just to the mountain top, which makes this book an absolute page-turner. Thanks Erik W for writing this book and share intimately with the readers the details of your journeys and the poeple in your life, we all have a lot to learn and draw from your experiences touched by the top of the world.

I've owned this book for a few years now, and like my caption says, it never gets old.

In this golfer's book you will find instruction, philosophy, and history - all woven masterfully together in the form of stories. Whether it's the lengthly section where Harvey gives his thoughts in the grip, or the extremely terse paragraph explaining why he never joined the tour, Penick uses the right words at the right times.

I've read it several times and often take it with me on long trips. It's broken into several very short segments, sometimes two or three on a page, sometimes two or three pages. This means you can always pick it up, read a quick snipit, and walk away from it.

Lastly, I've found that whenever my golf game is struggling, I read this book and it always somehow gets back on track. I don't know if it's from the lucid instruction or the comforting philosophy, but either way this book has become an integral part of my golf regimen.

Reading this book is like talking to a professional. The answers you need are right there. I read alot about golf as it has become my passion in the past year. This book is amazing. Harvey brings the game to life and makes it easy to understand. He explains so many aspects of the game that it is amazing it is a "Little Red Book" and not a Huge Red Book. Definately worth reading for any golf enthusiast.

The book I had just read could be considered a novel but is more ani instructional-novel on one of the greatest golf teachers who ever lived. The man's name is Harvey Penick. The book he wrote is called;"Harvey Penickcs Little Red Book." The main theme of the story is mmainly to tell about the golfing and teaching life of Harvey Penick. Harvey Penick had a little red book where he would write down the notes on what is changing or progressing in a students golf game. Harvey would also write down his golf tips in his book. Harvey had a series of books. This bok is one of many books he wrote. Harvey Penick wrote another book called,"The Game For a Lifetime." That book he could not complete because he passed away before he could. Tom Kite one of his best friends took over and finished the book for him. He just used the knowledge he had gained from Mr. Penick. I couldn't tell you the whole story because alot of it is on the teaching of golf. What I can tell you are the little things such as, Harvey had a son named Tinsley, and a wife named Helen. Harvey was born in Austin,Texas.Harvey was the head pro at the Austin Country Club. He worked there until 1975 and held the job for fifty years. After that his son had taken over his position.Harvey, after he retired, decided to hang around the country club and teach whoever wanted to be taught about golf. I don't want to give away all the aspects about Harvey Penick. If you would like to know more on this amazing man you'll have to read his book for yourself. The book is only about 180 pages long. I would definitly say this is one of the best books I have ever read.Iliked because I got so much out of it. This book helped me a lot with my golf gaame and taught me about one of the greartest teachers ever. I would definitly recommend this book to others. The only thing is, if you don't play golf or have nothing to do with golf you might not enjoy it.

What an excellent escape! It's the type of book you can read on a long flight and before you know it you're there. It was such a page turner that I couldn't put it down. This was the first book I've read from Sandra Brown - now I can't wait to read her others - she could be my new 'favorite author'. I highly recommend this book.

Sandra Brown's "Tiger Prince" is an excellent book. I read about it first from your reviews. I thought that it sounded very interesting so I bought it. It really is a great read. I have read two other Sandra Brown books and loved them both. I have read "Love's Encore" and "Bittersweet Rain." They were both excellent but "Tiger Prince" is my all time favorite book now. Caren and Derek had more chemistry than any other two characters in any book. One scene that sticks out in my mind is the attic scene where Caren thanks him for her new studio. I loved this book because you can really tell that Sandra Brown really put her heart into this one. It is nothing like the other two of her books I have read. I recommend this book to anyone. A really great book!

I received the Sandra Brown book Tiger Prince from a very good friend after I returned home from the hospital. I had to be home from work for 7 weeks and she said this was a good book to be home with. WOW was she right. I loved it. Derek and Caren were the most romantic couple. It was sensual and will certainly hold your interest page after page. I've began my second Sandra Brown book, The Witness, recently and once again she's captivated me with her writing. I can't wait to finish this one and begin another. Sandra Brown is a wonderful romance author!